Demolition is underway for work to begin on new £35m cancer centre at the Cumberland Infirmary

Work is ongoing to demolish the tower block building at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle to make way for the new £35m cancer centre.

The centre will offer services to patients across the north of the county including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The demolition is set to be completed by the end of April 2019 with construction of the new centre starting in the summer. The centre is planned to open in summer 2021.

Suzanne Stanley radiotherapy services manager explained what it will mean to patients: “Our patients tell us all the time what a good service they receive and what great staff we have in cancer services. What this is about is the environment in which they receive it. The new building will be state of the art but will also feel far more homely.

“Going to hospital can cause anxiety and getting treatment for cancer is scary. We hope this building will put people at ease by being in a relaxing and comfortable environment.

“We are all very excited to see the demolition progressing and we look forward to seeing the new centre come to life after years of planning.”

Suzanne Stanley and Gina Tiller

Gina Tiller, chair of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “As chair of the Trust for over five years now, I have personally been keen to see the old tower block building come down to make way for new, modern facilities. This is a fantastic way to start 2019.

“This level of investment in cancer services is hugely important for people living across north Cumbria as we are all touched by cancer in some way either personally or through someone we know. The new centre will not only mean a modern environment to be treated in but also new equipment to deliver vital treatment.”

The demolition of the tower block is the latest stage of improving cancer services for north Cumbria. Suzanne explained:

“We have already received very positive feedback following the installation of our new radiotherapy LINAC machine in Carlisle last year and the modernisation of the chemotherapy department at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven too. The demolition of the tower block is the next milestone for us in improving cancer services.”